News

Saturday Surfing

January 30th, 2010 by Karen 17 Comments

Why is web surfing so much more fun than EVERYTHING on my to-do list? I could be vacuuming, catching up on laundry or cleaning the windows, but instead I’m watching Cameo videos and reading about the weird stuff people put in their coffee. 🙂

Next stop: Cyberspace!

Random bright spots

50 ways to put the light back in your heart — Icing
Top beauty trends at the SAG Awards — Now That’s a Makeover!
Everything you ever wanted to know about mineral makeup application — BellaSugar
Have you figured out your V-Day makeup yet? How about this sultry look with neutral eyes and red lips? — Temptalia
Weird, amusing and LOL-able black and white photography — Black and WTF
MAC heads to the beach this summer — Cosmetosaur
Love these beachy rooms — Elements of Style
J-Lo’s beauty secrets — Daily Makeover
Unexpected stuff you can borrow from the library — Dry as Toast
How NOT to hurry — Zen Habits
A weekend guide to home and garden sales nationwide — Apartment Therapy
Make a jewelry mirror to carry your accessories — Daisy Janie
LOL! Birth of a Golden Girl — Popped Culture
Raw eggs, blue cheese — you won’t believe the weird things people put in their coffee! — Putting Weird Things in Coffee
3 simple tips for effortless writing — Write to Done

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Hot Coral Lips and Silver Fingertips for Chanel Summer 2010

January 29th, 2010 by Karen 44 Comments

All morning long I’ve been JWoWW-ing over the makeup that Karl and Co. sent down the runway for Chanel’s Spring/Summer Haute Couture show in Paris earlier this week. Turns out the look was a sneak peak at a couple of soon-to-be launched pieces from their summer makeup collection.

Karl gave Peter Philips, the Global Creative Director of Chanel Makeup, three key images to inspire the makeup for the show: neon baroque, chemical pastels and liquid silver. Oh, Karl! You so crazy. 🙂
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New in Beauty, Jan. 27: A Bronze Goddess Gets Summer Stripes and NARS Gets Matte About Lips

January 27th, 2010 by Karen 25 Comments

New in Beauty

Yay or nay to Estee Lauder’s Bronze Goddess blush/bronzer compact for summer?
Blend to build a blush with these springy new Rimmel Lasting Finish Powder Blushes ($5). Each comes with three swirl-able shades for mix/matching. 🙂
Fascinating! NARS’s new (silicone-based) Lip Stain Glosses ($24) have a matte finish in gloss form?
Now THAT’s a funky applicator — Dior’s new Capture Totale Instant Eye Rescue ($95) eye cream.
Hmm… I’ve got a few dark spots eager to try Clarins’ Bright Plus On-the-Spot Corrector ($35).
Shiseido’s The Make Perfect Rouge Glowing Matte Lip Colour ($25) is making spring matte-er.
No worries. Shiseido’s also making sure there’s still plenty of shiny lipgloss to go around!
The T3 SinglePass Flat Iron ($160) has tourmaline-infused plates (sounds like something from a comic book, LOL!) to supposedly straighten strands in a single pass.
Could Milani’s new HD Advanced Concealer be the $7 drugstore answer to YSL’s Touche Eclat?
From now through March, Bliss will donate 75% of the proceeds from sales of their Softening Socks ($48) and Glamour Gloves ($48) to Unicef relief efforts in Haiti.

Congratulations on making it to hump day with me, ladies! 🙂 I can see the summit, with the weekend not far below. Let’s do this!

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

New in Beauty, Jan. 24: A Barbie T3 and Sparkly Glosses from LORAC

January 24th, 2010 by Karen 14 Comments

What’s shakin’, turkey bacon? How’s it going, ladies? I’m bummed it’s already Sunday night. Tabs has to go back to work tomorrow (he had me iron his tie), and he’s none too pleased about it. Poor cat’s gotta earn his keep though. 🙂

In other news, I didn’t do much today, other than finish a whole mess of laundry, write a couple posts, watch the latest 30 Rock on Hulu (LOVE Julianne Moore’s Boston accent. It’s wicked cool!) and window-shop for clothes online (didn’t find anything).

I did, however…

…almost die and go to heaven when I came across this Barbie Edition of the T3 Featherweight Dryer ($200). It’s SUPER CUTE!

And in other Sunday beauty news…

LORAC is going *sparkle motion* with the new Multiplex 3D Lip Gloss ($22).

I almost rose from my chair at the sight of this Korres Japanese Rose Showergel ($20).

Um, is anyone else strangely fascinated by Givenchy’s transparent Mister Eyebrow Fixing Pencil ($23)?

Have you been wondering what to do with an extra $1,600?

Got stress? I feel your pain, homie. Maybe we need Aveeno Stress Relief Foaming Bath ($6).

A new $20 eye primer from LORAC? Tell me more.

Tori Amos = AWESOMENESS. Tori Amos + Smashbox = AWESOMENESS DELUXE.

Who else is tempted to taste (NOTE: Probably not a good idea, BTW) Philosophy’s Butterscotch Bliss Shower Gel ($16)?

All aboard! YSL is jumping on the stick gloss bandwagon with Gloss Volupte ($30).

Enjoy the rest of your night. 🙂

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Saturday Surfing

January 23rd, 2010 by Karen 24 Comments

Hi, ladies. 🙂 What’s shakin’? How’s the weekend coming along? Mine got off to a great start. I woke up to sunshine, huzzah! It didn’t last long (it’s actually hailing now), but it sure was nice to see the sun for a change. Tabs even got to go for a quick walk.

After our walk, I just chilled in front of the computer for a couple hours while I drank some tea and nibbled on toast and peanut butter.

Here’s some of the cooler e-stuff I found…

Random bright spots

These vintage hairdryers will blow you away 🙂 — Bella Sugar
OPI’s Alice in Wonderland polishes blinded me with sparkle! — Temptalia
A tale of two vanities — We Heart This
Fashion-forward kittehs — The Catorialist
Possibly the coolest tights I’ve ever seen — Les Queues de Sardines
How awesome would it be to stay at this hotel in Barcelona? — The Cool Hunter
Thanks to Google, I just toured Stonehenge — J-Walk Blog
Super gross! Wash new clothes before you wear ’em, babes! — Good Morning America
Meet Adios Script, my newest font crush, along with other great fonts from 2009 — I Love Typography
Calgon, take me to Maldives!! — Aquabumps
50 simple steps to happiness — NY Mag

New in stores

Oooh, streamlined! Smashbox’s Doubletake Lip Color ($22) has a lip liner and a creamy lip color in one pencil.
I’m drooling over Bobbi Brown’s Cabana Corals Lip & Eye Palette for spring ($60).
New from OPI: the Hong Kong collection!
LUSH now does spa treatments.
Remember the new Smashbox Lip Techs from the other day? Nordies is offering a Lip Tech, along with several other intriguing eye, lip and face goodies in their new Glambox Beauty in Bloom Kit ($68).
Chanel Christalle gets a lighter, fresher little sis’ with Cristalle Eau Verte Spray ($105).
The Shu Uemura Depsea Hydrability skincare range ($20-75) sure looks luxe!
Shiseido’s latest foundation has a sheer matte finish and comes in a compact ($30). Sounds promising!
Any rose lovers sniffed BVLGARI’s Rose Essentielle Body Lotion ($55) yet?

One of the cutest kittens, evah!

A nifty way to experience sound…

I hope you’re doing something fun today. Tabs says hi. 🙂

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

New in Beauty, Jan. 21: Paul and Joe Does Alice in Wonderland, but NARS Loves to Thrill!

January 21st, 2010 by Karen 26 Comments

Wowza! Are you ready for this jelly? And by jelly I’m referring to new beauty releases from Paul and Joe, NARS, Smashbox and more.

Sit back, kick off your shoes (if you’re at the office, maybe sneak it under your desk), and let your mind wander with today’s New in Beauty roundup. Don’t be surprised if you find a little drool on your keyboard when you’re done. 😉

I’m lurvin’ the packaging for Paul & Joe’s Alice in Wonderland collection (HELLA CUTE!).

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Philosophy Miracle Worker Miraculous Anti-Aging Moisturizer Guards Against the Signs of Aging

January 21st, 2010 by Karen 6 Comments

Ladies, pat yourselves on the back for making it over the Wednesday hump! I can finally taste freedom (aka the weekend), and oh, how sweet it is! 🙂 Before our regularly scheduled MBB programming begins, here’s a sponsored post featuring a newcomer to Philosophy’s skin care line. – Karen

Philosophy Miracle Worker Miraculous Anti-Aging Moisturizer is a new skin care savior that boasts the highest level of antioxidants of any Philosophy moisturizer. The satiny formula leaves skin feeling soft, while it helps strengthen skin’s natural rejuvenation potential to guard against signs of aging. All this while it helps protect against free radical attack.

Want to try it? Philosophy is providing a free deluxe sample of the new Eye Hope advanced Anti-Aging Eye Cream (2 ml) with any purchase of the Philosophy Miracle Worker Miraculous Anti-Aging Moisturizer. The offer will be valid through January 31. Use code ageless to take advantage.

New in Beauty, Jan. 19: Good Stuff from Bobbi Brown, Dior and Yves Saint Laurent

January 19th, 2010 by Karen 36 Comments

Bobbi Brown Nectar Shimmer Brick

Happy Tuesday, ladies. 🙂 As I type this pre-dawn post by the dim light of my monitor and a small desk lamp in rain-soaked Novato, I’m closing my eyes and picturing Bobbi Brown’s Nectar Shimmer Brick ($38), a shimmery coral, on top of a pretty coral blush. YUM!

Dior Serum de Rouge

I can’t wait to try all eight of Dior’s new luxury lip treatments in Serum de Rouge ($32).

From left to right: Dior Serum de Rouge in Rosewood, Coral, Crimson, Raspberry, Beige, Mocha, Soft Pink and Nude

StrangeBeautiful Library of Color: Volumes 1 and 2

For the nail fiends and polish junkies of the world (I’m right there with ya!), the StrangeBeautiful Library of Color, Volume 1 and Volume 2 ($79 each, yowza!), are available for pre-order!